Pneumatic secondary clock



C. B. HALE.

PNEUMATIC SECONDARY CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-23.1916.

Patented 1312x1130, 1920.

W 6 9 M MK W 2 w 6 1 @H WQ @501 b a 2 f 60 6 6 g messes CHARLES BALLARD HALE,

OF PARK RIDGE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TIME SYSTEMS COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

PNEUMATIC SECONDARY CLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

Application filed November 23, 1916. Serial No. 132,942.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES BALLA'RD HALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Park Ridge, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Secondary Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in secondary clock movements, designed especially for operation by pneumatic impulses whereby the movement is advanced without the usual springs, weights, etc, from a master clock.

l'leretofore, in placing movements of this character in the secondary clock casing, it has been necessary to use a plurality of screws, whereby the movement is attached to the interior of the casing. These screws are eliminated by the present invention, and the movement is held fixed within the clock casing without the necessity of more than one attaching element.

It is also the object of the present invention to produce a secondary movement which is not only simple in its construction, but which may be assembled with vastly greater case than the average clock movement, or pneumatic clock movements prior hereto.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be apparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangzement of parts. all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary interior elevation of a clock dial, illustrating the secondary movement. forming the subject matter of the present invention, attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the present movement in conjunction with the fragmentary edge elevation of the clock dial.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along line of Fig. 1 to illustrate the shaft of the movement and the mounting of the gear train thereon. also the means whereby the movement is held fixed to the dial.

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in the section of the diaphragm plunger rod through the medium of which the movement is ad vanced. from the diaphragm.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and illustrates the construction and mounting of the diaphragm cup.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section along lines 6--6 of Fig. 5, to illustrate the construction of the diaphragm cup and the mounting and locking of the diaphragm therein, and also the cooperation thereof with the plunger plate.

Incident to a clear understanding of the present invention a brief description of the clock system of which it forms a part is desirable. Such a system of clocks, in its preferred form comprises a master clock from which extends one or more line pipes, each line pipe having one or more of the secondary clock movements forming the subject matter hereof, connected in series, thereto. The master clock in its operation sends an impulse of air into the line pipe and maintains this pressure during one min-- ute, at the expiration of which normal or at- ,mospheric pressure is restored in the line pipe. Hence, during one minute a pressure is maintained in the line pipe, and during the next minute atmospheric pressure is restored and so on indefinitely, alternating normal and abnormal pressures in the line plpe.

The present clock movement is designed to be influenced by these alternating condi tions so that it will advance one minute when a pressure is produced in the line pipe and another minute when atmospheric conditions are restored. Thus the present movement advances one minute with each change of pressure conditions in the line pipe.

In carrying out the present invention a front plate 10 is provided to rest parallel to and at the rear of the secondary clock dial 11, for the support of the secondary movement. This front plate 10 comprises a normally vertical body 10", which at its upper end terminates in the reduced eXten sion 12, and at its lower end in the divergent arms 10 extending, at an angle to the body 10 upon each side thereof. In turn the arms 10 terminate in the convergent arms 10, which attheir point of vergency, create an enlarged surface 13, utilized in carrying the pneumatic operating mechanism to be hereinafter described. Approximately midway of their length the arms 10 are bent at right angles so that the supporting surface or platform 13 is at right angles to the front plate 10. It is manifest from the foregoing that the arms 10' and 10 in combination form, prior to the bending of said arm 10, a substantially skeleton triangle with the supporting surface or platform 13 as its apex.

At the end of the extension 12 of the body 10 of the front plate 10, and at junctions between the arms 10 and 10 are the studs 14;, formed from the front plate and eX- tending at right angles thereto on the op posite side thereof to the bent portions of the arms 10". When the front plate 10 is positioned on the rear face of the dial 11, these studs 1+1 rest against the inner face of the dial, and not only space said front plate therefrom, but hold the plate steady and prevent any movement thereof relative to the dial.

In .order to removably secure the front plate to the dial and rigidly hold the same in place, the dial 11 is pierced by the usual central opening 15 (Fig. through which passes the exteriorly threaded bushing 16. The end of the bushing 16 projecting be yond the dial face is provided with a washer 17 and has a nut 18 threaded thereon, the washer resting against the dial and the nut clamping firmly against it. it its inner end the bushing 16 enters an opening 19 in the body 10 of the front plate 10, where it is upset or riveted to the plate. Between the dial 11 and the body 10 of the front plate 10, the'bushing 16 is encircled by the integral and circumferential rib or washer 20, the periphery of which is knurled to form a toothed. bur 21 at each end thereof. lVhen the bushing 16 is upset or riveted to the body 10* of the front plate 10, the bur 21 of the rib or washer 26 adjoining said plate will bite into the same and will thus secure the bushing 16 thereto in such a manner that it cannot turn in the opening 19 of the said plate. As the nut 18 is tightened upon the projecting and threaded portion of the bushing 16, its action will draw the bushing 16 through the opening 15 in the dial 11 until the bur 21 of the rib or washer adjoining the inner side of the dial will bite into the same and hence prevents any rotary movement of the bushing relatively to the dial. Manifestly therefore, the front plate 10 together with the mechanism carried thereby and the dial 11 are to all in tents and purposes a unitary structure until. such time as the nut 18 and washer 17 are removed from the bushing 16, wien the plate 10 may be removed.

The entire secondary clock movement together with its driving mechanism is mounted on the front plate 10, the movement itself centering about the bushing 16. To accomplish this an hour sleeve 22 is mounted for rotation within the bushing 16 and projects from each end thereof. The escapement or minute shaft 23 is mounted within this hour sleeve 22 in such a manner that it may rotate relatively to the sleeve simultaneously with the latters movement rela tive to the bushing 16. At its forward end the escapement or minute shaft projects somewhat beyond the terminal of the sleeve 22, while at its opposite or rear end it projects a comparatively greater distance beyond the corresponding end of said sleeve. The portions of the sleeve 22 and the shaft 23 projecting beyond the forward end of the bushing 16 have the hour and minute hands 2% and 25 respectively secured thereto.

The time train is mounted upon the escapement or minute shaft 23, the hour sleeve 22, and a counter shaft 26, the latter belng fixed to the front plate 10. Mounted on the escapement or minute shaft 23 is an escape wheel 27, which when advanced operates the entire movement through the medium of the barrel pinion 28 likewise mounted on the shaft 28 and fixed thereto. For its rotation, the inner end of the hour sleeve 22 has a gear 29 keyed or otherwise fixed thereto. The countershaft 26 has loosely mounted thereon the gear and the pinion 31, said gear and pinion operating together as a unit. As the escapement wheel 27 advances step by step the barrel pinion 28 and the I escape shaft 28 are rotated correspondingly,

hence advancing the minute hand 25. Inasmuch as the gear 30 of the countershaft 26 meshes with the barrel pinion 28, and the pinion 31 of said countershaft meshes with the gear 29 of the sleeve 22, the movement of the said barrel pinion will be transmitted to the hour sleeve 22. The ratio of thistime train is such that the ratio of move ment of the shaft 23 and sleeve 22 is 12 to 1.

A back plate 32 is spaced from the front plate 10 by means of the posts 38 which are secured to said front plate and carry the back plate thereby forming a housing for the time train above described. This back plate 32 also forms a mounting for the es capement or minute shaft 23 and for the pins upon which the escape pawls, to be hereinafter described are mounted.

Tn order to provide for the escapement or advance of the time train the escape wheel. 27 is operated upon by the escape pawls 34 and 35 (Figs. 1 and 2) meshing with the teeth of said wheel upon opposite sides of the upper end of the vertical diameter thereof. The back plate 32 is provided with the divergent extensions 32, to form bearings for the outer ends of the pins 36 sup ported and carried by the front plate 10. These pins or studs '86 constitute indirect supports for the escape pawls 3 1 and 35. To mount the pawl 35 a bell crank 37 is pivotally mounted on the pin 36 adjoining the position of said pawl 35 so that one arm is normally horizontal and its other arm vertical. The horizontal arm extends to a point medial of the pins 36 where it is bifurcated as at 38, while the vertical arm ter minates in an angular tooth 39 located normally at the approximately adjacent corre sponding end of the horizontal diameter of the escape wheel 27 and at a point somewhat removed from the wheel 27. The pawl 35 embraces the vertical arm of the bell crank 3'? where it is pivoted in any desirable manner, being limited in its downward movement by a stop 35 projecting at an angle from the pawl to rest against the vertical arm of said bell crank, and thereby maintain said pawl in an approximately horizontal normal position with its free end engaging the teeth of the escape wheel 27.

The opposed escape pawl 3a is mounted on the remaining pin 36 in a generally similar manner. A lever 4:0 is pivoted to the re maining pin 36. and extends across the vertical diameter of the escape wheel 27, where it terminates in the tooth ll angularly arranged with respect to the lever and similar to the tooth 39 of the bell crank 37. The pawl embraces the lever 4-0 medially of its length, where it is pivoted in such a manner that its free end engages the teeth of the escape wheel 27; the downward movement of said pawl being limited by a stop 345 which extends at an angle to the pawl and normally rests against the body of the lever 40.

To provide for the simultaneous operation and co-action between the pawls 34, 35 and of necessity the bell crank 37 and lever &0, the latter is provided with an extension 42 which terminates adjacent to and overlaps the bifurcated end 38 of the bell crank 37. This extension has an outstanding pin 4C3, so located that it is received in; the bifurcation 33, thereby connecting the bell crank 37 to the lever 40 whereby the oscillation of one is transmitted to the other.

A. second pin li is carried by the extension 42. and is encircled midway of its length by the circumferential double conical head or rib provided to removably secure the operating plunger rod 46 (to be described) to the lever t0, in order that it may through its reciprocation oscillate the lever 40 and the bell crank 37.

From the foregoing it manifest that when the plunger rod 46 moves upwardly it will apply a lifting force to the pin it, hereby mov ng the lever 40 and horizontal arm of the bell crank 37 upwardly. This movement causes the vertical arm of the bell crank lever to swing inwardly and bring the tooth 39 thereof into direct engagement with the teeth of the escape wheel 27 but not however, before the pawl 35 has exerted apressure on one of the teeth of said wheel to advance the time train so that the hands may be moved to indicate the passage of one complete time unit. Simultaneously with this movement, the tooth 41 of the lever e0 becomes disengaged from the teeth of the escape wheel 27, and the pawl 3a rides over the periphery of said wheel to engage the next adjacent tooth thereof.

When the plunger rod t6 moves downwardly at the expiration of a unit of time, the lever 40 and horizontal arm of the bell crank 37 oscillate in similar direction, causing the pawl 34 to exert a pressure on the tooth of the escape wheel 27 engaged thereby and immediately thereafter bring the tooth ll of said lever into engagement with the teeth of said escape wheel; thus the time train is advanced or escaped a unit of time. lVhile this is being done the tooth 39 at the end of the vertical arm of the bell crank 30 is removed from engagement with the periphery of the escape wheel 27, and the pawl 35 permitted to ride over the periphery of said wheel 27 to engage the next adjacent tooth thereof, in order that it may be prepared to advance the time train to indicate the next unit of time.

Therefore it is clear that the plunger rod 46 reciprocates once during the passage of two units of time, i. 0.. it moves upwardly at the expiration of one unit and downwardly at the expiration of the next unit, said rod remaining in the position to which it is moved during the passage of one unit of time. This action is continually repeated, thus a lvancing the time train alternately by the pawls 34 and 35, the teeth 39 and 41 acting as stops to insure accuracy of movement on the part of the time train.

Hereinbefore it has been described how the master clock with which one or more of the present movements cooperate, alternately places a pressure in the line pipe at the expiration of one unit of time and maintains such pressure during one time unit, at the expiration of which. the line pipe is returned to atmospheric pressure during the passage of the next unit of time. When the line pipe is under pressure the plunger rod 4:6 moves it vardly and when atmospheric conditions are restored the rod moves downwardly, and consequently for ea ch change of pressure conditions within the line pipe the secondary movement advances or escapes.

'To accomplish. this, the supporting surface platform 13 of the front plate 10 is pierced by an aperture -17 communicating with a slot 48 extending to the edge of said platform or surface the width of which is somewhat less than the diameter of the aperture 47. The platform or surface 13 at one side of the slot 4:8 has a. projection 49 formed therefrom the edge of which rests approximately parallel to the edge of the slot 48. Mounted on the platform or su porting surface13 is the diaphragm cup C. the bottom of which has the outwardly extending nipple secured concentrically thereto, the passage 51 of said nipple communicating with the interior of the cup C. Flush with the bottom of the cup C, the nipple 50 is provided with a faced flange which when the cup C is on the platform 13 rests flush against said platform with one face engaging the projection 49 thereby preventing the cup C and nipple 50 from turning or rotating within th aperture 45?. Directly below the faced flange the nipple 50 has an exteriorly threaded. cylindrical portion 53, of a such diameter that it readily pass through the aperture i? in the supporting platform or surface 13, but not through the slot 1'8 communicating; there with. This threaded cylindrical portion 53 projects below the supporting platform or surface 13 where it is engaged by the winged nut 54 adapted when in position to rest flush against the under sire of said platform 13, and clamp it seem ly between toe bottom of the cup C and said nut thereby removably but securely fastening the cup C to the platform below th time train. At a point below the threaded por tion 53 the nipple 50 is reduced as at 50 to a diameter suflicient to pass through the slot 48 in the platform 13; hence by loosening the wingnut 54 and raising the cup J to disengage the threaded portion 53 of t 11C nipple 50 from the aperture 47 of the platform 13, the reduced. portion 50 may be passed through the slot d8 to remove the cup C aforesaid from the platform. The nipple 50 is connected with the pipe 55 which communicates with the line pipe (not shown), and by this means all changes of pressure in the line pipe are transmitted to the diaphragm cup C through the pipe 55 the passage 51 of the nipple 50.

Upon the bottom of the diaphragm cup C is placed a flexible lining; 56 of rubber or other suitable material (Fig. 6) which completely covers said bottom. This lining 56 has a concentric opening 5? therein which registers with the upper end of the passage 51 through the nipple 50. Over this is placed the imperforate flexible diaphragm 58 which under atmospheric pressure rests flush upon and coincides with the linimz: 56. The coinciding circumferences of the lining 56 and the diaphragm 58 are held to gether in a substantially air tight seal by means of the vertical clamping rin 59 opcrating: upon the said edges a flexible washer 60 being interposed between the rinp; and the edge of the diaphragm 58.

To hold the clamping ring in place and to force it against the diaphragm 58 and the lining 56 the wall of the cup C is provided with a plurality of downwardly oblique slots 61 over which the ring 59 partially laps access being had to the slot 61 through the vertical entrance slots 62, extending to the edge of the wall. clamping plate 63, compris' a ring 63, having the diametrical crossba 63 and the outstanding studs 63 is ad the My st". the slots 61 of the wall of the cup L said studs having reached the slots througi the entrance slots By grasping the crossbar 63 and turning the clamping plate 63 thereby, the studs 63 will ride down the slots 61 and by the same action thereof will force the ring 59 downwardly, clamping the lining 56 and the diaphragm 58 together forming a substantially air tight seal between these two elements.

It is therefore clear that when an abnormal pressure is created in the line pipe and and the pipe 55 the diaphragm 58 will move upwardly to the dotted line position in Fig. 6., forming an ellipse in combination with the lining 56 and the bottom of the cup (3, and when atmospheric pressure is restored in these pipes the diaphragm will drop or return to its full line position. It should be here observed that the bottom of the cup C is convened outwardly, and thus forms an approximate reverse curve to the curve of the diaphragm 58 when the same is raised or distended. This allows a maximum movement on the part of the diaphragm which may be limited by the adjustment of the plunger rod 46, to be presently described.

To impart the movement of the diaphragm 58 he plunger rod l6 through the medium of the latter to the bell crank 37 and lever 40 a plunger plate 64 rests upon said diaphragm and partakes of its movement. This plate 6% has a stud 65 swiveled thereto said stud being); reduced as at 66 where it joins the plate 64 and at its upper is again reduced at 67. the latter reduction being eXteriorly threaded. The cross bar 63 of the clamping plate 63 is provided with a guide opening 68 of a diameter suilicient for the stud 65 to reciprocate therethrough. This guide opening 68 severs an adjacent edge of the cross bar creating a means of access to the opening of less widt than the diameter of said opening by means of which the stud 65 may be placed in said. opening when the plate 63 is in place, the reduced portion 66 being used for this purpose.

The threaded reduction 67 of the stud 65, screws into the lower end of the plunger rod 16, the latter beinp; a tube, thus providing an adjustment between the rod 46 and said stud. Inasmuch as the stud 65 is swiveled to the plunger plate or and is externally knurled as indicated, any rotation of said stud will lengthen or shorten the plunger red as an entity provided of course, that the portion 46 thereof is held from turning.

\Vhen the relative positions of the stud 65 and rod 46 have been determined a lock nut 69 may be rotated until it bears against the lower end of the rod 41:6 thus fixing the adjustment.

At its upper end the rod 4:6 is split as at 70 (Fig. 4. each side of said split having a semi-circular depression therein. A certain amount of resistance is obtained between the sides of the split 70, hence by placing the end of the pin 4A: in the opening formed by the combination of the depressions 71 and forcing the upper end of the rod 4:6 toward the back plate 82 the sides of the split will ride over the double conical flange or rib 15, removably locking the latter within the upper end of the tube 46. By merely pulling on the upper end of the rod 46 the same may be quickly disengaged from the pin a The feature is extremely useful in removing the plunger rod a6, and plate 64 when it is desired to change the diaphragm, the attachment or detachment being instantaneous.

As the diaphragm 58 is affected by the various pressure conditions in the line pipe, so are the plunger plate and the plunge rod 46 affected, the movement thereof operating the time train as heretofore described.

In order to set the hands, the inner end of the escapement or minute shaft is provided with a knurled flange 7 2, by means of which said shaft may be rotated in either direction.

While the preferred form of the present invention is illustrated and described it is p to be understood that many changes may be made in details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a plate, having studs formed therefrom and extending from one side of said plate and a platform formed from and extending from the other side of said plate, of a dial cooperating with said plate and spaced therefrom by the studs aforesaid.

2. The combination with a plate, having studs formed therefrom and extending from one side of said plate and a platform formed and extending from the other side of said plate, of a dial cooperating with said plate and spaced therefrom by the studs aforesaid, and means carried by the plate for piercing said dial to removably secure the plate to the dial aforesaid.

3. The combination with a dial, of a plate cooperating therewith, a series of studs eX- tending therefrom and bearing against the dial aforesaid, and means carried by the plate for securing the same to the dial.

4. The combination with a dial, of a plate cooperating therewith, a series of studs extending therefrom and bearing against the dial aforesaid, and means carried by the plate for securing the same to the dial, in cluding means to prevent a rotary or lateral displacement on the part of the plate.

The combination with a dial, of a movement carrying plate cooperating therewith, a series of studs projecting from said plate to rest against said dial.

6. The combination with a dial, of a movement carrying plate cooperating therewith, a. series of studs projecting from one side of said plate to rest against said dial, and a bushing fixed to said plate and adapted to pierce said dial.

7. The combination with a dial, of a movement carrying plate cooperating therewith, a series of studs projecting from one side thereof for contact with said dial, a bushing carried by said plate and adapted to pierce said dial, attaching means for se curing the end of the bushing projecting through the dial, and means interposed between and engaging the dial and plate for locking said plate from displacement.

8. The combination with a. dial, of a movement carrying plate cooperating therewith, a series of studs projecting from one side thereof for contact with said dial, a threaded bushing carried by the plate and adapted to project through the dial, a nut on the projecting end of said bitishing for securing it and the plate to the dial, and means interposed between the plate and dial adapted to engage both said plate and dial to lock the former against movement relative to the latter.

9. The combination with a dial, of a movement carrying plate cooperating therewith, a series of studs projecting from one side thereof for contact with said dial, a threaded bushing carried by the plate and adapted to project through the dial, a nut on the projecting end of said bushing for securing it and the plate to the dial, and a rib formed on said bushing between said plate and dial in the space created by said studs, said rib having its periphery knurled to form two burs, one for biting into the plate and the other into the dial upon the tightening of the nut aforesaid.

10. The combination with a dial, of a plate cooperating therewith, a bushing for securing said plate to said dial, and means interposed between the dial and plate for engaging both.

11. The combination with a dial, of a plate cooperating therewith, a bushing for securing said plate to said dial, and a rib encircling said bushing having a bur projecting from each side thereof for engagement with the plate and dial aforesaid to eliminate any relative movement thereof.

12. The combination with a dial, of a plate cooperating therewith, a bushing for securing said plate to said dial, a nut threaded upon said bushing, and a rib encircling said bushing.

13. The combination with a plate, of a supporting platform carried thereby, having an opening therein communicating with the edge of said platform by a slot of less Width than the diameter of the opening, a diaphragm cup removably supported by said platform, and a nipple on said cup arranged to be received in said opening and having a reduction capable of passing through the slot aforesaid.

l l. The combination with a plate, of a supporting platform carried thereby, having an. opening therein, a diaphragm cup carried by said lat-form, a nipple on said cup arranged to i e received in the opening, and means for holding said nipple and cup from rotary movement relative to the platform aforesaid.

15. The combination With a plate, of a supporting platform carried thereby, having an opening therein, a diaphragm cup carried by said platform, a nipple on said cup arranged to be received in the opening, a projection on said platform adjoining the opening thereof, and means carried by the cup and nipple for cooperation with said projection.

16. The combination with a plate, of a supporting platform carried thereby, having an opening therein, a diaphragm cup carried by said platform, a nipple on said cup arranged to be received in the opening, a. projection on said platform adjoining the opening thereof, and a faced flange carried by the cup and its nipple for cooperation with said projection to retain said cup and nipple from any rotary movement relative to the platform aforesaid.

17. The combination with a supporting platform, having an opening therein communicating with the edge of the platform by means of a slot, a diaphragm cup,and a nipple projecting from said cup, said nipple varying in diameter, whereby oneportion thereof may be engaged by the opening and another pass through the slot aforesaid upon disengaging the first portion from said opening.

18. The combination with a supporting platform, having an opening therein commui'iicating with the edge of the platform by means of a slot, a diaphragm cup, at nipple projecting from said cup, having an e teriorly threaded enlargement to project through said opening, terminating in a reduced portion arranged to pass through said slot upon the disengagement of the enlargement from the opening, and a Winged nut adapted to be threaded upon the projecting end of the enlargement of the nipple.

19. The combination with a supporting platform, having an opening therein communicating with the edge of the plat-form by means of a slot, a diaphragm cup, a nipple projecting from said cup, having an exteriorly threaded enlargement adapted to project through said opening, terminating in a reduced portion arranged to pass through said slot upon the disengagement of the enlargement from the opening, a projection on said platform adjacent to said opening, a faced flange on said nipple for cooperation therewith when the enlargement thereof is in said opening, and a winged nut adapted to be threaded on the projecting end of the enlargement when projecting through the opening aforesaid.

CHARLES BALLARD HALE. 

